30

30!!!

I am 4 weeks away from completing HIST556 US Constitutional History

Many of you have heard me complain just a tad about this class...

Maybe you have heard my frustration regarding 29

29/30

29/30

29/30

29/30

29/30

Week after week she would grade my forum post...

and week after week she would give me postitive feedback and a 29...

Every week I would strive for that stupid elusive point...

Every week my frustration would mount...

Today it happend!

Today I will celebrate my 30/30

I hope you have something to celebrate today!

Hugs

Frychik

Caught in the Middle...

Thank you to Jill for letting me know that some of you hang in there with me :)

So I have a dilemma...
Banquets - What are your memories of high school banquets?


As a Student-
I remember my Freshman year no one had asked me to the Spring banquet
I wanted to go
I wanted someone to ask me
Some sweet guy finally worked up the nerve
I think we said two words to each other all evening
Of course there were other banquets with other boys and they were all fun in their own ways

It was an excuse to buy a new dress, if you could afford it.
It was fun to see how the SA had decorated or which restaurant they were taking us to
It felt very grown up...

As a teacher-

I have been to WAY too many banquets.
Banquets are a real challenge
-VERY limited budget,
-Limited budget means your location choices are VERY narrow
-You have a vegetarian menu - which 9 times out of 10 means pasta
 -You have to entertain teenagers
-Enforcing the dress code
-Tomorrow I get to explain to girls for the umpteenth time nothing should be hanging out from the top or the bottom...

As a parent-

I love that my boys have worked up the courage to ask some lovely ladies to the banquet.
I love that the fuss and primp
I love that they pay for the girls
I love that they pick out corsages
I love that they have the opportunity to act like gentlemen and treat the girls like they are worth something

As the middle guy parent/faculty

- I worry about putting on a quality program for the kids
- I wonder if the time for banquets have come and gone...
-I worry about the additional financial stress an event like this puts on homes (we are charging 23. per student the same as last year.  It is costing us 29. per student plus transportation costs)
-I worry that the food, venue, photographer, entertainment will/won't work out
-I realize it is impossible to make everyone happy.  There will be plenty of negative comments after the event which is always a bit hard to swallow given the challenges faced with the event.
-I wonder if my date will try to kiss me ;p

Frychik

A Poem for you...

T - hanks for reading my silly, boring, cleaver(?), ramblings
H -ope your T-day is full of love and laughter
A -nd that your stomach will hold all you desire
N - othing tastes as good as warm pumpkin pie
K - etchup is what I prefer on my mashpotatoes...
S -ending you some love this holiday :)

FRYCHIK

Progress...

So I thought I would update you on the weight loss efforts...
and I do mean EFFORTS

In July I finally had enough! 
By September I had lost 20 my original goal
But then I thought 25 sounded better...

But biking season was over and I had about a million people ask me "how are you gonna keep it off?"
and that was the same question the voice inside my head kept asking me "how ARE you gonna keep it off?"

On top of my source of exercise being limited the garden and its bounty of healthy wonderful veggies had dried up...only producing potatoes...

I live in a house with two teenage boys who carb load everyday...every meal.
Carbs are clearly my enemy (bread in particular)
I was anxious but determined...

So I switched gears to running.  Back in high school I was a a runner and I've tried several times as an adult to get back into it but I always give up.

Running is not remotely as fun as biking but it is helping and I've been suprised at how all those miles on the bike seem to help me trasition to running...as I was running up a hill and wanted to quit I thought "this doesn't hurt as much as the La Center hill" ...and I'd keep going.

I have managed to keep the weight off and lose those additional 5 lbs :)

The problem I'm having with running is my sports bras are rubbing me raw under my boobs (think rope burn).  It is really painful and I don't know how to fix it now that the damage is done.  I've tried several different bras but they all rub when I run. 

What do I do?
I can't quit running...until biking season returns

grrrr

Frychik

Owie

So, I mentioned before that we don't take many trips to the ED.  I believe the last time we took Josh was 7 years ago when he got horribly sick in a hotel room in northern Ca.

I remember several ER trips when I was a kid.  Between my brother and I we kept my poor Mom in the waiting room for hours...

The last time I took Tyler to the ER it was at least 8 years ago and it turned out to be a false alarm when the urgent care Dr. thought he saw a bowel obstruction on the x-ray 

My last trip to the ER was almost 2 years ago and I don't remember much...Giardia

Jeff's last trip to the ER was 11 years ago with a lovely kidney stone...

My point being,

We don't get hurt around here much.

I feel so bad for Josh...and a little for me!

It's exhausting hauling his back pack, carrying everything, opening doors, helping him dress, dishing his plate, its like I have a GIANT toddler again :)

But back to Josh...he is not happy.  He doesn't like to be slowed down but he is being a trooper.  Tonight we did the ice bath then warm water treatment.  The swelling just keeps getting bigger which means I'm not doing a good mommy job of making sure he keeps ice on it...

His boss at CAA owns a wheel chair and has offered to bring it to school so he can wheel around in it and give his arms and one good leg a break.

Sure makes you appreciate having two good legs!

Frychik

FLS

Flashlight Literary Society (Judy's home)

So thankful that last night was book club night.  They don't come often enough!  Judy was our fabulous host and as always her table decorations blew us away.  Suzanne and I just picked up our cameras and started shooting...Judy had to remind us that we should eat at some point...

 The book was set in Prague during WWII and the main character was an artist.  Judy found these cool art supplies and created the most beautiful table.

She even found a way to write the character names on her beautiful glasses! Nice touch!

 The food was amazing!  It is obvious that our "book club" is also a "food club" :)

 We all gave the Lost Wife thumbs up but if you read it brace yourself for the ending...we all decided it was "lacking"

The reveal!  Tanna was super excited to reveal her book choice.  A brand new book from her favorite author!  Complete with a bookmark and a snowflake...

Judy pointed out that this was our 30th (!!!) book club!
Judy thanks for opening your wonderful home...
thanks for the yummy food...
thanks for the lovely evening...

I love book club!

Frychik

Fall Fest

FALL FEST 2011

KODY'S TRAVELS

I think this is one of the sweetest pictures of these guys buying tickets...  This year we decorated the ticket booth and entrance to resemble an airport terminal.  I think it turned out fantastic.  I love working with kids! They have so much energy and creativity! When the project begins I have a hard time "seeing" it.  When the end result is before me I'm always blown away!

 

You had to pass through security complete with the x-ray machine...we didn't do the full body scan though... ;)

It was cold...but the water was warm which meant you wanted very badly to be dunked!

The maze looked amazing! A student drew that free hand! So much talent!

Here's a shot of the gym.  Each booth was decorated as a different country...kinda like 80 days around the world...



The kissing booth...Tyler looks pretty good with lipstick...

Thanks to Nana and Grandpa Josh and I were able to wear authentic German attire...

I like to think fun was had by all...

I'm not lying I took a DEEP sign Sunday morning!

In other news...

I have been really fortunate as a parent in terms of rarely (and I mean I could count on my hands how many times) I have to take my kids to the ER. 

Thankfully it was not life threatening but my boy hurt his ankle playing basketball.

I miss the days when I could just scoop him up and move him if he needed me to.  It took 3 men and a rolling chair to get him from the gym to my car...

Verdict:  No broken bone but he stretched his ligament pretty good.  His ankle is swollen up real nice and it hurts...

Disappointing considering it was day 2 of tryouts for the bball team.  His first year trying out! :(  And he is missing an indoor soccer game today and he's worried about snowboarding...

I think he will heal up quick and all will be well soon.

In the mean time...its funny watching him try to negotiate steps with his crutches...

Frychik

In a nut shell

 The first picture is here just because I love it... and I figure my Mom will to  :)



If I had a picture for the highlights of this week they would look like this...


I woke up Sunday morning compelled to grab my camera and get out of bed and take some pictures

Then I would have a picture of me mowing the lawn and my husband digging up potatoes and tilling the garden...

Then I would have a picture of Volleyball...

Then I would have a picture of working on my Master's class...

I do have a picture of one of the many evenings (but sadly not all) I found myself here at our church..

This week our youth pastor has planned a series of meetings "Youth Essentials".  Each night begins with dinner and then kids get up and speak about our church, our teachings, etc.  It's been awesome! My mom, Judy and I made dinner on night one.  It was fun and its been awesome to enjoy dinner the other nights.  I vote for the church to provide dinner for my family every night!

Here's a picture of some of what we have been working on this week at school...

This week is the week before Fall Festival....
It's a ton of work! Fortunately I have hardworking, talented SA officers who have been AMAZING :)
And we even called in the retired Mr. Belin to help :)


I also made top secret banquet arrangements...

I would have a picture of me grading Latin America reports and grading tests on South America...

I would have a picture of me forgetting an appointment and forgetting to tell someone something they needed to know...

I would have a picture of me sitting through Parent Teacher Conferences...

And then I would have a picture of me (escaping early from P/T conferences)running across the street to see this young man preach...

He did really great!  He seems to be a natural up front!  Preach it Brother Fry!


And then I would have a picture of me dropping the ball on a few other things... I've dropped the ball on at least five different things this week...

Oh well...I don't feel like playing catch right now anyway...

See ya tomorrow night!

Frychik

I'm missing it!

Life is crazy for everyone I know right now...
We are all running around like insane people trying to do 15 things at once...
And do each thing perfectly..
Exhausting...

I haven't had time to blog so here is a list of my ramblings...

Fall-
One of the things I am most frustrated about is missing fall...
I love to get out with my camera on fall days and wander...
There has been no time...

(fall 2010)

Funerals-
Yesterday I went to another funeral...
I'm really tired of funerals...
I go to more funerals than I do weddings anymore..
Is that just the stage of life I'm in?
I hope not!

Fall Festival-
This week its all about the finishing touches for Fall Festival.
There is so much to organize, plan for, decorate...
I love being SA sponsor but this is the toughest gig right now!

And then hiding right behind Fall Fest. is Patriotic spirit day, Christmas Banquet, Headstart Party and in January Talent Show...

Our theme for Fall Festival this year is Kody's Travels...
(Kody is our Kodiak bear mascot) So each booth will be decorated
to show a different part of the world...

I love the theme :)

(Entrance 2010)

Masters Class-
In other news...I am at the beginning of week 10 of my 16 week US Constitutional history class.
My research paper on the 2nd Amendment is due Christmas day...
Sigh...

I'm on a very long road to my Masters...it's gonna take FOREVER!

Boys-

My boys have been upfront for the past two weeks for church.
I love watching them do their thing.
They are both developing into such nice young men.  I'm so proud of them and so sad that they are so close to leaving me...
Josh spoke for Senior Recognition this week. Yesterday he spoke along with the rest of the team about their mission trip to Appalachia and this week he is one of the speakers for Faith Essentials.  He's finding his place in this world.  Meanwhile, Ty is up front strumming his guitar...:) He has no interest in speaking into the mic at this point...

Today my goals are strip my raspberry canes, prune my roses, do the laundry, read 100 pages for class, play some volleyball and enjoy some family time...

Frychik

Vegas Baby...

My thoughts on Las Vegas...

1.  I went about 13 years ago with my friend Jo and I left thinking "that was interesting to see but I don't need to go again"

2.  When my husband announced his conference was in LV I decided I didn't want to be left home.

3.  Vegas is a very interesting place...always something new to see...I had to wonder about the guy above...is this what his mother had envisioned for her baby son when she held him?

4.  We were both happy with our room.  A very nice room.  I could stand in the shower and see this view :) I failed to take a picture of the room and the beautiful bathroom.  I also failed to take a night picture the lights were lovely.  That is the Bellagio next door.  President Obama was there while we were there

5.  I enjoyed walking around with my camera

6.  Vegas is all about the artificial, illusions, bluff...interesting to see but if you've been to the real Eiffel Tower, the real NY city its just not the same...

7.  The very best part of the trip where the two shows we saw!

8.  Unfortunately they don't allow cameras! We were in the FRONT ROW of Cirque Du Soleil "O" show.  It was breathtaking! I loved every second of it.  Amazing what the human body can do!  I would love to go see more of their shows!



9.  The next night Jeff's boss and his wife took us to see the Blue Man Group.  Which was completely different from the night before but still very entertaining!  Jeff managed to get pulled into the show which resulted in a "Blue Man" spitting candy into Jeff's hand...

10.  In really enjoyed my pool time.  It was wonderful to lay by the pool and feel the warm sun on my skin!  Life is CRAZY now and to be able to hit the pause button for three days was wonderful!

Frychik

Still kids

Teenagers...They want to be so grown up until free candy is involved...then suddenly they want to be little still

I can't remember the last time I carved a pumpkin...I'm a bad mom in that department.  The innards are sticky and gooey and yucky...

Love the panda...

Josh was a ninja this year (he took off his mask for this pic) his girlfriend was a rock star...Things started with these two a year ago while trick or treating...

Taking inventory of the loot...

Someone gave the kids hot chili peppers!  One of the boys ate one and was in PAIN and drank half a gallon of my milk before he calmed down...it was funny!

I've never been a big fan of Halloween.  When I was little my mom who didn't believe in trick or treating would take my brother and I to the grocery store where we could pick out a few "full sized" candy bars and that was it. 

I remember the first time I wanted to take my kid trick or treating.  We only had Josh at the time and we had ZERO money.  I remember going to Kmart to try to find some costume that I could put my little one in.  I found a Pooh costume but it was missing the "head" so I got it for a massive discount...a headless Pooh.  We stuck a stocking cap on his head and called it good...sad but all he cared about was his pumpkin and filling it with candy :)

Frychik